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Greg Blake and Greg Cahill with the Big Sky Bluegrass Boys

Greg Cahill and Special Concensus have been a major band for 40 years and Blake has a monster solo career as well as  now being a member of Special C.  The Gregs are here for Montana Fiddle Camp and have scheduled shows in Bozeman and Missoula. This is the real deal rght here.  Billy Parker is up from Phoenix on mandolin for the show with LSHouse proprietor John Parker on bass and Isaac Callender on fiddle.  WOW  Expect a night of just plain hard-driving bluegrass.  I love getting to pick with these legends and my brother, Billy and good bud, Isaac.

Natalie Padilla

Natalie Padilla is one of the best musicians I know.  Not just among my friends, but every player I have seen.  She plays multiple instruments and sings and writes beautiful tunes. – John

Hello!

I am thrilled to be inviting you to an evening of music where I get to share my favorite
melodies and songs in multiple folk traditions, new and old, traditional and original. I’ll be
joined by my beloved 00-Martin guitar, Ome banjo and Vigato violin, oh, and Mooshi the shar
pei (if she’s allowed inside). You can expect to hear an Irish jig preceding a Bach
Bourée, a swing standard followed by a Beatles song, and selections from my three solo
albums.
A bit about me if we haven’t met, I’m a native Montanan, currently living in Northampton, MA.
I grew up around a lot of music, mostly bluegrass, texas fiddle, western swing and classical. I
went to college for classical violin, received a bachelor in music performance from the
University of Northern Colorado, where I was lucky enough to teach at for 5 years in the folk
and bluegrass studies program. I’ve played in various bands and orchestras over the years
including: Masontown, Elephant Revival, Thunder and Rain, FY5, Big Chimney Barn Dance,
Bozeman Symphony Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic, Opera Colorado, and am currently
playing with Vermont based band Low Lily. I write original music and am still celebrating my
newest album Montana Wildflower, released March 31, 2023. I hope you might consider
joining me for an of evening music and community, it would be my pleasure!

“…a rarity in the fiddle world, being equally as adept at folk, bluegrass, Celtic, and old time music, as she
is with the classical repertoire as a violinist. Her original music has consistently showed the same breadth
and depth, exploring sounds of every sort with her instrument.”
– Bluegrass Today
“a highly accomplished fiddle player – and also an established classical violinist”
– Americana UK
“Padilla demonstrates her command of the fiddle and her thorough knowledge of old time music. These
original tunes sound at once familiar and new.”
– Fiddler Magazine

Many thanks,
Natalie

Champagne Sunday

On their most recent releases, Scour (2021) and Balance (2022), the duo worked with producers Shawn Simmons (The Head and the Heart, Lemolo, Kithkin) and Javier Garavito (Youryoungbody, The Last Book Club) and drummer Sean Lane (Pedro the Lion, Ann Wilson of “Heart”) to push their sound beyond into new emotional territories. (Read a review from “Rock & Roll Globe”)
Part of the broad appeal of Champagne Sunday is their tendency to avoid topics like religion and politics, but instead speak with broad-stroke and genuine messages of love and humanity. As such, Champagne Sunday continues to amass a far-reaching, broad, and ever-expanding fan base that even includes the Governor and first lady of the state of Washington, Jay and Trudi Inslee, who have personally attended shows.
They’re lovable. They’re fun. They’re edgy. They’re unique. They’re not to be missed.
“Rich musical artistry and seamless delivery set Champagne Sunday miles ahead of the crowd of musical talents clambering for an online presence. Reminding us that we are each ultimately in charge of our own reality, this talented duo is clearly in an absolute state of joy when they perform––the perfect example of following your bliss, staying present and appreciating each moment. This is what true musicianship looks and feels like when passion is front and center.”
https://champagnesunday.com/

Claude Bourbon

Medieval & Spanish blues…..progressive blues…

“A breathtaking acoustic fusion of blues, jazz, folk, classical and Spanish guitar from a stunning guitar virtuoso…” Altadena News, USA

Ready for a unique and talented take on a wide range of musical traditions? Claude Bourbon is known throughout Europe and America for amazing guitar performances that take blues, Spanish, and Middle Eastern stylings into uncharted territories.

Claude’s inimitable style incorporates all five digits on each hand dancing independently but in unison, plucking, picking and strumming at such speed and precision that his fingers often seem to melt into a blur. Thousands of people in the UK, Europe and USA have enjoyed listening to this virtuoso and for the majority of his audience it is an experience that compels them to return again and again to hear and watch him play, as his fingers lightly dance over the strings of his guitar and create a unique sound that is ’Claude’.

Now based in the UK, some of this guitarists’ influences allow us a fascinating insight into this remarkable musician; Paco De Lucia: Deep Purple’s Richie Blackmore; Joaquin Rodrigo; JJ Cale; JS Bach….

Claude has played countless venues, including Glastonbury Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Colne Great British & Blues Festival, Rock O’Z Arene, Avenches, Switzerland, among others. He has shared the stage in Europe and the USA with countless musicians, Calvin Russel, Charlie Morgan (Elton John, Gary Moore), Jan Akkerman (Focus), Steve Grossman (Miles Davis), Herbie Armstrong ( Van Morisson), Jose barrense Dias and many more.

“Claude Bourbon weaved his songs through the audience as if on a journey through life taking in different flavours of Europe and beyond… from classical openings, across a whole continent of cultural roots, holding audience attention under a musical spell, his music would not have been out of place in the courts of Emperors and Kings.” (G. Munn)

“ Claude Bourbon is a unique figure today… his playing is almost indescribable“ – The Hook, Charlottesville, USA

“Never heard anyone get that much beautiful sound out of a J-45”, Bob, Tucson, AZ


“…His fingerpicking is exquisite and if I closed my eyes I could clearly hear two guitars playing. Just when I recongnised a theme he moved on with a mesmerising cascade of notes which kept on flowing. He added a driving bass, for a version of “She knows how to stretch it”. By the time he sang the first verse he had ‘stretched it’ from Spain to the Caucuses, and from the concert hall to the bar room. His forte is obviously his wonderful guitar work, but he does occasionally burst into song and what you then get is something between Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens, combined with a French accent! C’est magnifique.” Dave Baily

Woodbelly Returns!! March 20th, 2023

WOOD BELLY 

Something downright mystical is happening on Colorado’s Front Range. The very roots of traditional  acoustic music seem to sprout from the dirt, shaking their dust into the winds of change, to be  breathed in and become the soul of musicians who craft their songs here. 

Such is the music of Wood Belly, a musical collective of Chris Weist, Chris Zink, and Aaron  McCloskey. A Wood Belly song has its own lyrical persona and masterful arrangement; rooted in  bluegrass tradition and planted solidly in contemporary innovation. The trio has recently added  drummer Dylan French to the lineup, who brings a wide expanse of grooves to their sound. 

The band has been garnering attention since the release of their 2018 debut album Solid Ground,  which was followed by a win at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition (earning them  a main stage performance slot at the 2019 festival), as well as an IBMA Momentum Band of the Year  nomination. 

Wood Belly released it’s third album, Great Big Skies, in June of 2022 capping an impressive stretch  of writing and releases. The new 12-track collection was recorded at Crossroads Studio in Arden, NC with Grammy winning producer and bluegrass veteran Jon Weisberger. 

The band first started to get together in 2015 and the music fell into place immediately. The  instrumentation and rhythmic drive of the band is like a tree trunk centered in bluegrass with  branches that uninhibitedly reach out in many directions. There is a powerful focus on songwriting,  with influences from multiple genres. Wood Belly, like other bands in the Newgrass or Grassicana  realm, is rooted in tradition but refuses to be confined. Their sound is authentic, passionate and  always entertaining. 

Every member of the band writes and they take a collaborative approach to sculpting a song once  the basic structure is in place, refining and editing until a seamless arrangement reveals itself. 

Whether it’s a hard driving bluegrass song, a multi-layered instrumental, a pop-oriented hook-laden  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mligMmFhNfxlLqpjH242nsEQUsXKQIYL2rAPgLiVItQ/edittune, or a poetic waltz— each song has something to say. There’s an identity, a message in every  song, delivered in a characteristic Wood Belly style that is warm and true, occasionally haunting and the next moment light and uplifting. The timbre of voice and strings is solid, confident, honest and  playful. Every member sings and vocals are a significant part of the Wood Belly sound. 

Since its formation, the band has played an ever-expanding list of great venues including the  Mishawaka amphitheater, the Boulder Theater, Wildflower Pavilion (Planet Bluegrass), The Fox  Theater (Boulder), The Oriental Theater (Denver) and Cervantes’ (Denver). Their festival resume  includes the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Winter WonderGrass, Northwest String Summit, Palisade  Bluegrass and Roots, the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, The Ogden Music Festival, Rhythms on the  Rio, Campout for the Cause, the Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival, Rapidgrass, and more. 

Winning the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition in 2018 has opened doors and created  opportunities. The fest is part of the fiber of Wood Belly’s fabric, making the win even sweeter.  Each member has a story to tell about attending the festival throughout the years and how it 

influenced music and inspired songwriting. 

Wood Belly has shared bills with The Infamous Stringdusters, Del McCoury Band, The Steeldrivers,  Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, The Lil’ Smokies, Front Country, Wood & Wire, Trout Steak Revival, Steel  Wheels, and many more.

Dale Adkins & Jim Faddis April 27, 2023

FADDIS ADKINS (FnA) DUO

There’s something about the simplicity of two guitars, two voices, and perfect harmonies that transcends time and provides an authentic backdrop for the journey of a song. When that journey is delivered from the hands and voices of Jim Faddis and Dale Adkins, you can sit back and live that journey together with them. Their voices blend seamlessly on Jims original songs and country classics giving the audience a feel of a walk through time. Dale’s wizardry on any stringed instrument in his hands is accompanied by Jim’s tasteful rhythm  guitar. Few musicians exhibit the instrumental mastery and artistry that Dale brings to his playing on guitar, banjo, ukulele, or tenor guitar. 

Dale has performed across the U.S. and Europe . Many of the Northwest’s premier Bluegrass bands have benefited from Dale’s creative mastery of the guitar including the groups Out of the Blue, Dr. Corn’s Bluegrass Remedy, Frontline, True North, Old Growth Acoustic Quartet, and Dan Crary. Dale can be seen playing a mahogany Preston Thompson acoustic guitar built in Sisters, OR. Dale currently records with his band, Rock Ridge. Their new album, “The Flood,” has just been released in March. https://www.daleadkins.com/bio.html

At the heart of his band, Farm Strong, Jim Faddis’s soulful voice strikes a chord deep within audience members, and resonates a musical memory of long ago.  For years, his bluegrass band, Prairie Flyer, fired up the Washington State bluegrass scene, a reflection of Faddis’ talent and skill in driving a very talented group.  Faddis’ gift for songwriting and his songster ways shine in FarmStrong, where he leans on styles from Gillian Welch to Neil Young for inspiration, making new and old tunes, his own. https://farmstrongmusic.com/jim-faddis/

 

Woodbelly Returns!!! March 20, 2023


WOOD BELLY
Something downright mystical is happening on Colorado’s Front Range. The very roots of traditional acoustic music seem to sprout from the dirt, shaking their dust into the winds of change, to be breathed in and become the soul of musicians who craft their songs here.
Such is the music of Wood Belly, a musical collective of Chris Weist, Chris Zink, and Aaron McCloskey. A Wood Belly song has its own lyrical persona and masterful arrangement; rooted in bluegrass tradition and planted solidly in contemporary innovation. The trio has recently added drummer Dylan French to the lineup, who brings a wide expanse of grooves to their sound.
The band has been garnering attention since the release of their 2018 debut album Solid Ground, which was followed by a win at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition (earning them a main stage performance slot at the 2019 festival), as well as an IBMA Momentum Band of the Year nomination.
Wood Belly released it’s third album, Great Big Skies, in June of 2022 capping an impressive stretch of writing and releases. The new 12-track collection was recorded at Crossroads Studio in Arden, NC with Grammy winning producer and bluegrass veteran Jon Weisberger.
The band first started to get together in 2015 and the music fell into place immediately. The instrumentation and rhythmic drive of the band is like a tree trunk centered in bluegrass with branches that uninhibitedly reach out in many directions. There is a powerful focus on songwriting, with influences from multiple genres. Wood Belly, like other bands in the Newgrass or Grassicana realm, is rooted in tradition but refuses to be confined. Their sound is authentic, passionate and always entertaining.
Every member of the band writes and they take a collaborative approach to sculpting a song once the basic structure is in place, refining and editing until a seamless arrangement reveals itself.
Whether it’s a hard driving bluegrass song, a multi-layered instrumental, a pop-oriented hook-laden https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mligMmFhNfxlLqpjH242nsEQUsXKQIYL2rAPgLiVItQ/edittune, or a poetic waltz— each song has something to say. There’s an identity, a message in every song, delivered in a characteristic Wood Belly style that is warm and true, occasionally haunting and the next moment light and uplifting. The timbre of voice and strings is solid, confident, honest and playful. Every member sings and vocals are a significant part of the Wood Belly sound.
Since its formation, the band has played an ever-expanding list of great venues including the Mishawaka amphitheater, the Boulder Theater, Wildflower Pavilion (Planet Bluegrass), The Fox Theater (Boulder), The Oriental Theater (Denver) and Cervantes’ (Denver). Their festival resume includes the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Winter WonderGrass, Northwest String Summit, Palisade Bluegrass and Roots, the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, The Ogden Music Festival, Rhythms on the Rio, Campout for the Cause, the Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival, Rapidgrass, and more.
Winning the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition in 2018 has opened doors and created opportunities. The fest is part of the fiber of Wood Belly’s fabric, making the win even sweeter. Each member has a story to tell about attending the festival throughout the years and how it
influenced music and inspired songwriting.
Wood Belly has shared bills with The Infamous Stringdusters, Del McCoury Band, The Steeldrivers, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, The Lil’ Smokies, Front Country, Wood & Wire, Trout Steak Revival, Steel Wheels, and many more.

Camila Meza March 12

The New York Times described her as “A bright young singer and guitarist with an ear for music of both folkloric and pop intention, Camila Meza has connected with a strong peer group since moving to New York from her native Santiago, Chile, in 2009″ and adds “”Ms. Meza brings an appealing combination of lightness and depth to all the material, singing in a bright, clear voice against the agile stir of a first-¬rate band. Her improvising, on electric or acoustic guitar, is serious business . . .”

On Downbeat Magazine “Meza delivered pure, unaffected vocals, sung alternately in Spanish and English, that flooded the subterranean space with a genuine warmth and uplifting spirit. When she soloed on numbers like ‘Para Volar,’ ‘Emerald’ and the enchanting title track of her Sunnyside debut, Traces, it was clear that this triple threat from Santiago, Chile, had more to offer than just a beautiful voice, thoughtful lyrics and refreshing stage presence.”